Somatic Experiencing

Somatic Experiencing® is a therapeutic tool used to treat Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related disorders. Somatic Experiencing® is a body-oriented approach developed by Dr. Peter Levine, a Senior Fellow at The Meadows and a leader in trauma treatment. While studying the stress responses of animals in their natural environments, Dr. Levine discovered that trauma is not about the event. It is actually the biological and physiological response to the event. Dr. Levine believes that accessing the nervous system and bypassing the brain allows for more relaxation, containment, and emotional self-regulation.

The goals of Somatic Experiencing®:

Being present in the here and now

Exploring choices and options

Creating stability in patients’ relationships and lives

Somatic Experiencing® is used to treat two types of trauma:

Shock Trauma – Trauma caused by a single traumatic event or near-death experience.

Developmental Trauma – Trauma during childhood development.

The Meadows Model helps patients find the words to describe what they feel. Somatic Experiencing® works to stabilize emotional and physiological distress. These two effective approaches work together in the healing process.

Begin Your Journey Towards Recovery Today

The Claudia Black Young Adult Center in Wickenburg, Arizona, provides an intensive, experientially based 45-day treatment program for young adults ages 18 – 26 who are struggling with unresolved emotional trauma, addiction, have a dual diagnosis or who have failed past addiction treatments. Dr. Claudia Black - renowned author, speaker, and trainer who has been working with family systems and addictive disorders since the 1970s - is the clinical architect of the Claudia Black Young Adult Center.

In a safe and nurturing community composed of their peers, young adults are guided on their journey of recovery by examining the underlying causes of addiction and co-occurring disorders. The goal is for these individuals to gain the courage to face difficult issues, including grief and loss; heal from emotional trauma; and become accountable for their own feelings, behaviors, and recovery. Visit us here or feel free to phone us at 855-333-6075.